Eye patch



R. L. MOWER June 4, 1963 EYE PATCH Filed Nov. 13, 1959 FIG. 2

FIG. 3

INVENTOR ROBERT LESTER MOWER ATTORNEY States atent 3,092,103 PatentedJune 4, 1963 fine 3,092,103 EYE PATCH Robert Lester Mower, 1571 VeatchSt., Oroville, Calif. Filed Nov. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 852,650 1 Claim.(Cl. 128-432) This invention relates to improvements in an eye patch,and more particularly to a self-adhering eye patch for attachment to theface of a user over an injured or afflicted eye to cushion the same fromshock, protect, and completely conceal the eye, although the inventionmay have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled inthe art.

In the past, many and various types of eye patches have been developedand in most cases the eye patch was held over the eye by means of a tiecord or elastic headband which interfered to an objectionable extentwith the wearing of hats and other headgear since the band frequentlybecame dislodged or misplaced. Also, in most cases eye patchesheretofore made were of relatively rigid material and did noteffectively obscure light from the injured or afflicted eye unless thepatch was adjusted in an uncomfortably tight manner. Perhaps even moreimportant, eye patches heretofore known did not effectively permit theready opening and closing of the eye under the patch, and in many casesdid not permit the eye to naturally nictitate or wink under the patch.Many times it is desired to have an injured or afilicted eye remainopen, even though vision may be blocked by an eye patch, as long as theother eye is in use. That, however, was virtually impossible with manyforms of eye patches heretofore known, and it was incumbent upon theuser to maintain the injured or afflicted eye in closed position.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide an eye patch that is extremely soft and flexibleand so constructed as to provide a shock absorbing wall or lift to belocated around the eye socket.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a soft andflexible eye patch having a shock absorbing wall or lift incorporatedtherein of suflicient depth to permit the eyelid to be readily openedand closed without interference beneath the patch.

It is also a feature of this invention to provide a soft shock absorbingeye patch that is self adhering in character, being adhesively securedto the face of the user with the elimination of any elastic headbands,tie cords, and the like.

A further feature of this invention is the provision of an eye patchcomprising a cover to completely overlay the eye, with a surroundingcushioning wall beneath that cover carrying on its undersurface anadhesive by means of which the eye patch is attached to the face of theuser very readily and in a manner to completely block the entrance oflight underneath the edge of the patch.

Still a further object of the instant invention is the provision of aneye patch having a general oval shape, with a surrounding shockabsorbing wall underneath a cover portion, the wall carrying adhesive onits underface to attach the patch the the face of the user, and therebeing an integral extension of both the wall and cover at each end ofthe long axis of the oval to insure better anchorage of the patch inposition on the users face.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantages, someof which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It isto be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawing and description may be adopted unthin the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claim.

FIGURE 1 is afragmentary view of a patients head illustrating an eyepatch embodying principles of the invention in operative position overan eye.

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the eye patch of FIGURE 1 with partsbroken away to disclose the parts therebeneath.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structureof FIGURE 2 taken substantially as indicated by the line 33 of FIGURE 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings, in the illustrated embodiment of [theinstant invention there is disclosed an eye patch comprising a cover 1having a generally oval shaped center portion in keeping with thegeneral shape of the human eye socket. This cover sheet 1 may be of anysatisfactory material, but is preferably a soft flexible material. Ahighly napped fabric such as moleskin is quite suitable for the purpose,and this may of course be flesh colored, if so desired.

Beneath the cover 1 is a thicker layer or sheet 2 of cushioning materialand which has a relatively large oval aperture 3 therein whereby thecushioning sheet defines a marginal wall beneath the oval portion of thecover. The cushioning material 2 may satisfactorily be a foam material,such as foam latex, or a plastic foam of the type of polyvinyl foam orpolyurethane foam. This material is suificiently thick so that when thepatch is secured over the eye, the eye may freely be opened and closed,and naturally nictitate, beneath the cover 1 and without interferencefrom .the cover.

The cushioning material 2 may be secured to the underface of the cover 1in any suitable manner, such as by an adhesive 4 which, of course, doesnot extend over the portion of the cover closing the opening 3 in thecushioning material.

The underface of the cushioning material 2 carries an adhesive spread,preferably of the pressure-sensitive type, by means of which the patchis attached to the face of the user. This adhesive spread may beprovided in substantially any suitable manner, a very satisfactory Waybeing to utilize a thin plastic film 5 which is double-faced withadhesive as indicated at 6 and 7. Such film may be secured to theunderside of the cushioning material 2 by adhesive face 6, leaving theopposite adhesive face 7 exposed for use on the body. The film maysatisfactorily be an acetate film, a vinyl film, and a polyester filmsuch as that made from a polyethylene terephthalate resin has provenvery satisfactory, particularly because of its outstanding strength andbecause it can be made extremely thin, this particular material beingobtainable in various thicknesses from 0.00025 to 0.0075 inch.

Since the device is to be adhesively attached to the face of the user,in order to insure positive and lasting engagement until removal isdesired, a pair of extensions 8-8 are provided integral with both thecushion layer 2 and cover 1, there being one such extension at each endof the long axis of the oval. In order to preserve the adhesive surface7 until time for use, a temporary protective covering 9 is preferablydisposed over that surface. This pro- .tective covering 9 may be ofglassine paper, parchmentized paper, plastic coated paper, a plasticfilm, or any other suitable material that may be readily stripped fromthe adhesive surface and leave that surface intact for use.

In use, the instant invention is extremely comfortable as Well aseffective. Preferably the device is adhesively attached to the facesomewhat on the slant as seen in FIGURE 1 with one of the projections 8being on the cheek and the other near the top of the nose. When thedevice is pressed into place the wall of cushioning material 2 ispreferably disposed over the bony formation of the eye socket. The eyeitself is free for unimpeded lid movement since the lid Will be disposedWithin the aperture or cavity 3. The adhesive may be pressed against theface, and since the patch is extremely flexible, the adhesive maycontact the face intimately beneath the eye and along the side of thenose, as well as elsewhere so that the entrance of light beneath theedge of the patch is totally precluded at all points. The patch being ofsoft material and with the cushioning Wall 2 over the bony structure ofthe eye socket, any accidental bump adjacent the eye is efiectuallyabsonbed by the patch, and there is little or no likelihood of the patchbecoming dislodged while in use. Further, the patch has a neatappearance when worn and there is no tie cord or elastic headband tointerfere with the proper wearing of headgear needed at any time. Thedevice is also simple and economical in structure and very durable.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedWithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:

An eye patch comprising a substantially impenforate cover sheet of softmaterial of generally oval shape and with portions thereof formingintegral extensions at the long axis of the oval, a thickersubstantially planar sheet having a central opening extendingtherethrough and made of cushioning material and of a form and with substantially integral extensions similar to and complementairy with thecover sheet, the thickness of said cushioning sheet and the size of theopening therethrongh being such as to permit nictation of the eye whenthe patch is applied thereover, adhesive means securing the two sheetstogether with the extensions of the cover sheet in registration wtih andsecured to the extensions of the other sheet, and an adhesive carried bysaid cushioning sheet and the extensions thereof on the surface remotefrom the surface secured to the cover sheet for attaching the patch tothe face of a user, said attaching surface of the cushioning sheet andthe extensions thereof all lying in substantially a single plane.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,165,668 Vaccaro July 11, 1939 2,172,573 Blumenthal Sept, 12, 19392,342,840 Cadous Feb. 29, 1944 2,572,638 Loos Oct. 23, 1951 2,633,127Scholl Mar. 31, 1953 2,748,765 $011011 June 5, 1956 2,918,062 SchollDec. 22, 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Johnson & Johnson Catalog, copyright 1949(pages 34 and 51 relied on). (Copy in Division 55.)

